Saint John's travels to take on Macalester for a 7:30 p.m. game Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Leonard Center in St. Paul. – Live Stats/Video
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (7-10, 6-6 MIAC) ended the game on a 28-11 run in the final 8:03 to give head coach Jim Smith his 750th career win, 73-66, over Carleton on Jan. 21 in Collegeville. Smith becomes the 19th coach in college basketball history, all divisions (NCAA), to reach 750 coaching victories (750-531 record in 49 seasons at SJU). SJU took a 33-30 lead into halftime despite being out-shot 56.0 percent to 43.8 percent, thanks to a combined 13-6 advantage in second-chance points and points off turnovers. Carleton scored the first eight points of the second half and built a 55-45 lead with 8:04 remaining. The Knights, however, made only three of their final 12 shot attempts and committed three turnovers, all of which were turned into points for the Johnnies. SJU ended the game 8-for-9 from the floor, including 3-for-3 from three-point range, and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. Freshman Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led SJU with 19 points and five rebounds, while senior Chris Neumann (Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) and junior Kevin McKenzie (De Pere, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) added 11 points apiece. Junior Nick Meyer (Plymouth, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) totaled 10 of the team's 18 bench points. SJU ended the game with a 15-4 scoring advantage off nine Carleton turnovers.
COOKING UP: Kuck has averaged 17.3 points per game with a .500 shooting percentage (21-for-42), including 60.0 percent (6-for-10) from three-point range, in his last three games.
A LOOK AT THE SCOTS: Macalester (4-12, 1-10 MIAC) enters Wednesday's game riding a four-game losing streak since earning its first MIAC win of the season Jan. 9 against Saint Mary's. Bethel held the Scots to 11 first-half points en route to a 70-32 win Jan. 19. Senior Sam Marshall leads the team in both scoring (13.8 ppg.) and rebounding (6.8 rpg.), while freshman Dylan Kilgour is close behind with 11.8 points per game. Although Mac, which averages 16.2 turnovers per game, has lost each of its last two games by 38 points or more, the Scots were within 10 points of both Carleton (63-56) and Augsburg (61-51) on Jan. 12 and Jan. 14, respectively.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: Saint John's doubled Macalester's shooting percentage and scoring output in the first half en route to an 89-57 win this past Dec. 5 in Collegeville. The Johnnies shot 55.6 percent (20-for-36) to the Scots' 28.0 percent (7-for-25) to build a 46-23 halftime lead. Macalester made six of its first seven shots of the second half to cut its deficit to 15 (52-37) five minutes in but finished 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) the rest of the way. Kuck led the Johnnies with 21 points in 23 minutes, 18 of which came in the first half, to record his second consecutive 20-point game. Junior Jack Wittenborg (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) tied his career high with 13 points off the bench and Neumann added 10. Freshman Trevor O'Brien (New Prague, Minn.) tallied a career-high nine points and junior Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) collected seven points and seven rebounds. Sam Marshall led Mac, who was without its leading scorer, Pierce Peters (20.2 ppg.), with 20 points. SJU shot 64.3 percent (18-for-28) in the second half to finish at 59.4 percent (38-for-64) for the game. The home team held impressive statistical advantages in rebounds (41-24), points in the paint (44-22), points off turnovers (17-7) and second-chance points (15-3). Fouls were whistled to a 21-9 tune against SJU.
SERIES HISTORY: SJU is 70-28 all-time against the Scots under the direction of Jim Smith, including wins in 15 of the last 16 meetings overall.
